three steps towards a more positive mind

Three basic steps toward a positive mind:                                                                                                            By Lilach Tzingoker

Some three years ago I joined an ashram; I gave up my job my furniture and my very much loved cat. I knew it was for the greatest good. I remember standing on top of a hill overlooking the nearby forest and thinking: ‘Oh boy what have I done!’

The simple life style that was practiced in the Ashram brought on many challenges, some of these challenges one will only face if he was to take on such journey. The lessons I have learned there however, can be shared to some degree:

While living in the ashram I didn’t n watch television, I didn’t watch movies read the newspaper or listen to the news, the world outside did not exist! My mind had no distractions, it had to face it’s on self. This is not a simple step for any one’s mind. The outcome was at first unpleasant, there was so much of myself that I had to face. As a result my mind became quieter, finally the observer gained the dominant place in the mind, now it was able to make choices and direct the mind in the desired direction.    

Think about all the negative media around, gossip magazine, crime stories, bad marriage, terrorism and so much more. On top of which, the movies we all find so entertaining, are exposing us to an ever-increasing world of horror and disaster. While entertaining, the constant exposure to negativity is creating a busy and negative mind. More so, the nerves which are stretched in anticipation for a climax and tension, in a movie or any other entertainment form, are creating an addiction.  A rash your body demands, you will recognise the need and say:  ‘I feel like watching an action movie’. There is nothing wrong with watching a good action movie, however if you wish for a more positive mind try these few simple steps, once you have a positive mind you can watch action movies again.       

I recommend a rehab form negative media:

First step: no more gossips magazines.  

Second step; stop gossiping, simply cut it out of your conversation, the only person who suffer from the judgment is the one who judge, for you are the one who is left, it is such a waist of energy and such a waste of the use of one’s mind!  Instead try and find the good in people, this may not be easy at first but with a daily effort you will get there.

Third step: try and cut out the new if you can, what good does it do to you? Can you change any of the crimes that are been reported? Instead surf the net for good stories, happy stories; these will remind you that there are many good people out there.

At this point in human development the negative force is louder, in my opinion it is simply part of human evolution, some of my friends think that humans are inherently faulty, I disagree, we simply did not learn to act differently, we are now with more aportunaty then ever before to open our minds and our eyes to changes from with in, this is the very nature of human evoltion.    

We have the power to change, some may think that I am been naive, but I have seen the ugly side of humanity, I experienced it firsthand more than twice,  I refused to lose myself to it. I am a living proof that good is stronger than bad.

Try these first few and simple steps in your everyday life, do not give yourself hard time if you did not achieve your goal every day, instead be aware of where you fall short, forgive yourself (very important!) and try again the next day. You will feel better; you will have more energy for much of your energy will be freed to be used in a good constrictive ways.

Go ahead give a go. You can even let me how it went...      

too much positive thinking?

Too much Positive thinking,

Can there be an overdose of positive thinking?  The answer to that is No, there is no such thing as too much positive thinking. The right question to ask here is:  Can one slide his mind into denial instead of positive thinking? The answer to that is yes, there is a thin line between the two.             

Throughout the years I met many who tried the positive thinking theory, most of those who failed had a similar symptom. Often they will not be willing to listen to others advice. They were pretty sure they got it together and that what they doing will work out. I will have to watch them silently, as they deliver themselves into a world of denial which clean on to their emotions and create a not so positive situation. For example:

 a friend of mine overstayed his visa, he wanted very much to get a new visa and maid up in his mind that he will create the situation he will think positively, he will create a situation just like the book the secret describe the outcome without a doubt will be desirable. And so my friend applied for different jobs asking them to sponsor him but was offered none of the positions. At some point my friend did not share his thoughts and activities, he didn’t want anyone to shine a different light on the situation and risk the possibility of a negative thought entering his perfect little world of positive thinking. My friend had put a deadline on the whole visa project and booked a return ticket from Australia to the UK.

The day has come for my friend to get on the plan, he left behind most of his belonging and even organised a place to stay on his return, it was all part of his positive thinking project.  Two weeks later I got a phone call, he wasn’t allowed back in Australia for the next seven years!  He thought that positive thinking does not work,I said: 'you were in denial'. He was even in a denial about the denial. He won’t be trying positive thinking again anytime soon.     

If you doing what my friend did you are not practicing positive thinking you are creating a denial in your own head you are been unrealistic. What is the different? You ask, let’s take the above situation a positive thinking would be more like this:

Yes I over stayed my visa and yes there is a strong possibility that I will not be allowed back in. But I have had a great experience; I will take what I have learned with me. I will do my best to fix the situation and if it all fails surly another door will open. A negative thought will something like this: I am going to be in so much trouble I hate the UK what am I going to do? I have wasted so many years in Australia and for what?   

With the example above I hope I answer some of your questions. A positive mind doesn’t necessarily mean problem free life but it removes the blinds of negativity and allows you to see that even though some things didn’t work out there are other doors who will open. For every end has a beginning, it really does!

Another important point to consider is repetition, if you are hopping for something different to happen take a different course of action. If you take a left turn every day or your life you will end up on the left side every day of your life were the same trees grow and the same wind blow. if you want to go in a different direction try taking the right turn for a change, and even thought you don’t know where it leads too, it will take you somewhere you never been to before, if you keep your mind open you will find that doors did open.